Euro 2012 - Day 1: Summary

First match-day finished, and it has been a great opening day. Poland and Greece started the Euro 2012 with a match that contained everything. Two goals, two red cards, a missed penalty, a team that dominated and tormented the opposition the first half and went on holiday in the second, a Greek team that looked slow and not interested in the first half, but came on to the second half determined. Robert Lewandowski did as I predicted, he scored the first goal, but Poland wasn't able to  keep a clean sheet. Szczęsny, the Polish goalkeeper, wasn't at his best today, and his performance at the Greek goal wasn't a performance worthy a contract with a Champions League club. And later, when he managed to be sent-off in a rather clumsy manner, it was time to call it the day for the Arsenal player. But he was saved by his replacement, PSV goalkeeper Tytoń. The 25 year old saved the following penalty, a rather poor penalty by Greek skipper Giorgos Karagounis, and became the big hero for the host. If Karagounis had scored it could have settled an unexpected 2-1 victory for the Greek team. The miss meant that Salpingidis' goal was the only goal Greece got this evening. The referee ain't worth a comment, so I won't say anything about his poor performance.

A weird and crazy match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Poland - Greece  1-1
Goals: Lewandowski (POL) 17 min, Salpingidis (GRE) 51 min.
Yellow cards: Poland: None. Greece: Sokratis x2, Holebas and Karagounis. 
Red cards: Poland:  Szczęsny. Greece: Sokratis.
Att: 56070
Man of the Match: Jakub Błaszczykowski (POL)


The second match of the day was Russia - Czech Republic. A match with, in my opinion, one big favorite; Russia. And they met the expectations. And what a demonstration of power they made it into. Except the first ten minutes of the first half they controlled the match. They were just outstanding. And the Russian stars were shining; Arshavin, Dzagoev, Shirokov, Denisov and Pavlyuchenko were all pure class today. How many million £ did Dzagoev increase his value today? I don't know, but I think it was a couple. And the goals the Russians scored today was mostly class as well, I do though believe Cech should have saved Dzagoev's second and Russia's third, but it was a decent strike from the talented Russian. CSKA Moscow's big talent was really on fire tonight. The Czech goal was scored by another young prospect, Wolfsburg player Václav Pilař. And the young Pilař will be one of Czech Republic's key players in the next two matches. And against Poland and Greece I think both him and Jiráček will have a lot better working conditions. And I don't forget that Tomáš Rosický were quite decent today. In my predictions to this tournament I thought the Czech players had to go home after the group stage, but after todays matches I am not that sure anymore. I actually do think they might get a win against both Poland and Greece. And six points will take them through to the quarter finals. On the other hand I now think anything might happen in group A.

Russia - Czech Republic 4-1
Goals: Dzagoev (RUS) 15 min, Shirokov (RUS) 23 min,  Pilař (CZE) 51 min, Dzagoev (RUS) 79 min, Pavlyuchenko (RUS) 81min.
Yellow cards: -
Red cards: -
Att: 40803
Man of the Match: Alan Dzagoev (RUS)